Uglycake

The Bundeena-Maianbar Art of Living Festival is fast approaching, and being an old biddy at heart, I'm super excited!

My cookies will def be making an appearance in the "Best Biscuit" category. They're scrumptious. I would also like to enter the sponge cake category, however, not being a regular baker of sponge, some practice is in order.

Saturday afternoon was spent on my first attempt. I turned to Stephanie Alexander's "The Cook's Companion" for guidance (it's incredible. Buy it.)

All was going smoothly until I curdled the stupid cream, so we ended up with an ugly yet delicious cake. I suppose it could have been worse. Practice makes perfect. 41 days to go!

Corymbia ficifolia

...aka Flowering gum, to brighten the house this week.

Aussie and South African natives have kind of an uncool reputation... a bit stiff... a bit 80s... But most of them are totally spectacular and can be fun when used cleverly. This bride's bouquet, featured on once wed, is especially awesome.

Lockie

So, this is our little buddy, Lockie. Also known as Lock, Lockiepants, or just plain Pants. Don't know where the Pants bit came from. It just happened.

He's a lab x cocker spaniel, and his hobbies include making friends with everyone who crosses his path, performing hilarious antics, chilling at the beach or in the backyard and being handsome.

LOOK AT THOSE TOES. Isn't he the best?

$2 roses

They were old stock. The grower almost didn't want to sell them to me.

But they were so pretty, and I felt sorry for them surrounded by their super-fresh looking friends. So I gave them a chance, and they gave me three days of loveliness.

Sprout!

On Tuesday last week, I planted the first seeds in our veggie patch. Being something of a sceptic, I didn't actually think anything would come of them. I mean look at the little guys, they're so tiny.

Nine days later and the carrot seeds look like this.....

sprouting lettuce....

baby silverbeet....

...and a weency tomato plant.

So it's true... seeds do turn into plants. This gardening stuff is WHACK.

Dahlias

One of my flower school teachers told us that dahlias are only ever a funeral flower.



I wanted to say

If that's true, Bernie, then WHY do I see them in so many bridal bouquets and table centrepieces on wedding blogs? And also, I buy them and plonk em in a vase at home all the time, and they're fabulous! The possibilities are endless! Get with the times, old mate!

But Bernie can be a pretty scary guy, so I kept my trap shut.